Coal-storing apparatus.



W/Zwwm- J. M. SNEAD. GOAL STORING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAR. 26, 1909.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

2 BHEETSSHEET 1.

. I j M I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H c c.

J. M. SNEAD. GOAL STORING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1909.

Patented Nov. 7,- 1911.

' 2 HEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. SNEAD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GRAVITY COAL BINCOMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

COAL-STORING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. SNEAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Storing Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a compact arrangement ofcompartments or bins adapted to receive coal or other lading dischargedfrom dump cars, my improved structure being more especially designed forcooperation with cars provided with drop bottoms. In cars of this typethe floor is composed largelyin some instances substantially whollyofdrop doors. The operating mechanism whereby such doors are closed andopened is generally constructed in four sections, each sectioncooperating with the doors upon one side of the car extending from theend to the center thereof. These cars, as ordinarily constructed, areabout forty feet in length, and the operation of one section of thedumping mechanism, therefore, results in discharging the contents of thecar throughout about twenty feet of the length thereof. In plants forreceiving coal from cars, it is desirable to provide a series of bins orcompartments beneath the track in position to receive the coal or othermaterial directly from the cars when dumped.

In order to receive the lading discharged from dump cars of the typeabove described, it is necessary that each bin extend longitudinally ofthe track a distance of at least twenty feet in order that the materialdumped may be all received in a single bin, this being necessary inorder to avoid mixing different shipments, or different grades of coalor other material. It is desirable, however, in order to securecompactness and economy of construction, to limit the size of the bins,thus rendering it possible to place a larger number of bins in a givenlength of track. Generally speaking, I accomplish this purpose byconstructing each bin of less length than would be necessary to receivethe contents dumped from half the length of a drop bottom car of thetype above described, and mount deflectors or aprons upon the partitionsdividing the bins, such deflectors being adjustable to slope in eitherdirection from said partitions, and acting Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed March'26, 190E).

Patented Nov. '7, 1911.

Serial No. 485,958.

as a funnel or hopper to direct the lading into the proper bin. Themanner in which I apply this idea and the objects and advantages of myinvention will appear from the following description and claims, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aside view, partially in section, of a series of bins constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, taken uponthe dividing line between two adjacent bins, the deflecting aprons beingshown in intermediate vertical position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary planView, and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3, theparts being shown in central section.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, the railwaytrack is carried upon an elevated trestle provided with an inclinedapproach 1. Beneath the trestle there is a series of bins 2 separated bypartitions 3 extending transversely of the elevated track. The elevatedpart of the track is supported upon longitudinal stringers 4 leaving aclear dumping space between and outside of the rails.

At the upper edge of each of the transverse partitions 3, I mount anadjustable apron 5, the same being shown in the present instance aspivoted to the timber 6, by means of coacting straps 7 and 7 bolted,respectively, to the apron and timber. Extending transversely betweenthe stringers 1 are stationary apron sections 8 consisting, in thepresent instance, of boards secured to cleats 9 which in turn arefastened to the inner faces of the stringers 4. The stationary apronsections 8 form prolongations of the adjustable aprons 5 when the latterare thrown to either side, and the use of the stationary apron sectionslessens the necessary width of the adjustable sections, therebyrendering it possible to turn them from one adjustable position toanother when a car is on the trestle. Any suitable stops may be providedfor supporting the aprons 5 when adjusted to operative position. In thepresent instance they are shown at the left of Figs. 3 and 1 as restingupon the tie rods 10 which extend between the stringers 4.

In Fig. 2, the lower portion of a car in 010- erativev relation to thedumping apparatus is diagrammatically shown. In this View it will beapparent that a large amount of the material escaping over the opendoors 12 will fall outside of the track rails. I have, therefore,provided aprons 13 pivoted at their lower edges to the timbers 14 andextending outwardly from the stringers 4 to stationary deflectors 15which extend longitudinally of the track. The aprons 13, like the aprons5, may be turned to slope either way from the partitions between thebins, and in their operative position they rest upon stops 16, which inthe construction illustrated take the form of timbers extending from thestringers 4 to the deflectors 15. The inner upper corners of the aprons13 are cut away, as shown at 17, to afford clearance for the trucks andother parts of the cars.

WVhile I have illustrated my invention in connection with an elevatedtrestle having bins beneath, and passages below the bins, into which thebins may be discharged into wagons or other vehicles, it is apparentthat my improved construction is equally applicable to dumping bins ofany construction placed beneath a railway track. My improvedconstruction renders it possible to reduce the width of bins receivingtheir contents from dump cars of the type referred to above from abouttwenty feet to fourteen feet or less. In this way a large economy iseifected in the construction of coaling stations, both by reducing theamount of land necessary and by reducing the size of the bins.

I would have it understood that I do not desire to limit myself to theprecise construc tion and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings andherein described, as various modifications or alterations may be madewithout departing from my original inven tion.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, compartments or bins, and apronsat the top thereof, said aprons being adjustable to converge in pairstoward either of said bins.

2. In a device of the class described, a

plurality of bins side by side, and aprons above the dividing partitionsbetween said bins, said aprons being adjustable to slope in eitherdirection from said partitions.

3. In a device of the class described, a railway track disposed in amanner to support a car in dumping relation to bins, a series of binsbeneath said track, and aprons above the dividing partitions betweensaid bins, said aprons being adjustable to slope in either directionfrom said partitions.

4;. In combination, a railway track, longitudinal stringers supportingsaid track, a series of bins beneath said stringers, aprons above thedividing partitions between said bins, said aprons being adjustable toslope in either direction from said partitions, and stationary apronsextending between said stringers and forming a continuation of saidadjustable aprons when the latter are i in operative position.

5. In combination, a railway track, longitudinal stringers supportingsaid track, a series of bins beneath said stringers, and

aprons above the dividing partitions between said bins and extendingbetween said stringers and from said stringers outwardly, said apronsbeing adjustable to slope in either direction from said partitions.

6. In combination, a railway track, longitudinal stringers supportingsaid track, a series of bins beneath said stringers, aprons above thedividing partitions between said bins and extending between saidstringers and from said stringers outwardly, said aprons beingadjustable to slope in either direction from said partitions, anddeflectors extending longitudinally of said track at the outer edges ofsaid outwardly extending aprons.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

JOHN M. SNEAD.

Witnesses l/VALTER A. Soor'r, HENRY A. PARKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

